That is a GREAT song, isn’t it?
The story is deep (no pun intended).
The musicians are absolutely spot on and professional.
Listen to the ‘raindrop effect’ of the lead piano.
The piano acts as a Greek Chorus to the narrator or vocalist. This is a much overlooked song, occurring about 1961, on the edge of the 50’s sound, and the cusp of country ballads. Frankie Lane (Rawhide, High Noon, That Lucky Old Sun) also sang songs like this one, but his voice was more nasal, and not nearly as flexible as Pat Boone’s.